Recognize the Power of Mind
Today man has to understand the true relationship between matter and mind. When one is asked about the mind, he says, “Don’t mind.” When he is asked about matter, he answers, “It doesn’t matter.” By this sort of casualness, man is failing to understand [both] mind and matter.
Only when man understands the nature of the mind can he recognize the true nature of humanness. What is the mind? it is not something negative. It is positive. It represents the power of the atma, the power of sankalpa (will). It can travel any amount of distance in space. It can explore the powers of the atom. The mind can recognize the truth that is valid for the three categories of time—the past, the present, and the future. The mind is therefore very essential in man’s daily life. It is the source of all strength. Man today is indifferent to the importance and the powers of the mind.
Man is seeking happiness from birth to death. The search starts with education. But education does not confer happiness. He desires a job, but that does not make him happy. He then seeks marriage as the means to happiness. Happiness eludes him because the wife claims equal rights. Then he declares; “my life is a total darkness.” What is the reason for this feeling? It is the ego that is the cause. As a man grows, his egoism also grows. One after another, desires go on increasing. Their fulfilment does not bring him the happiness he seeks.
Where is ananda (bliss) to be found? It does not exist in material objects. It is not to be found in physical pleasures. The truth is man is the embodiment of bliss. He is searching for it outside himself. This is the mark of ignorance. When he is the embodiment of bliss, how can he secure bliss outside himself?
Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 28.
Those who experience this [Baba’s] Presence within them can experience a joy that is indescribable, wherever they may be…. People should realize that time is fleeting and one’s life span is melting away every moment like a block of ice. Man is nearing his end even before he realizes his primary duty. What is that duty? It is to discover the purpose of life. Man seeks wealth, comforts, position, and happiness. How are these to be got? Moving away from God’s grace, man seeks all these kinds of worldly happiness. Of what avail are these transient physical pleasures? Thyagaraja sought to know wherein lay real happiness. Is it in wealth or is it in the service of Lord Rama? If one is blessed with God’s grace, what more does he need?
Hence, seek God’s grace at the outset. Does real happiness lie in enjoying creature comforts? No. true happiness consist in manifesting all the potentialities in man. When you put into practice all the sacred thoughts that emanate from your mind you will realize true happiness. Most people do not practice the sacred impulses that arise in them with the result that they do not experience the bliss within them.
Embodiments of Love! The most important thing you must recognize is that your heart is a Ksheerasagaram (Ocean of milk). But because of the invasion of bad thoughts and feelings, your humanness is vitiated. Humanness consists in harmony of thought, word, and deed.
Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 28.
The mind is known as the inner sense organ. The mind is always engaged in recapturing, remembering, recalling, and reflection. As a result, it receives, and rejects wishes. You may be alone and silent, but the mind is on a spree—wishing, desiring, planning to do or not to do. And it keeps the tongue busy until sleep silences it. There are no standards that are kept in mind while looking for things, talking about people, and engaging in acts. Since these are done as soon as the thought arises. One must hold the thought for a while to examine and judge. Develop the quality of fortitude and the strength not to yield to the opinions of others unless you find them to be right, the courage to bear criticism and face slander.
Baba the Breath of Sai
